Bricks and Mortar in the City of Angels

Shelter, in its most basic form, is about physical protection from nature and the elements. Yet throughout history, man has built structures that offer solace for the spirit as well. Within the built environment of the modern city, the various architectures of churches and temples tell different stories: Some point upward to the sky, while some direct all traffic in through the front door. Some attract second looks with their ornamentation, while some warn the uninitiated to walk on by. And some, quite frankly, tell us that this was the most affordable space available.

In the following pages, the photographer Will Etling takes us on a tour of the literal foundations of Angeleno faith by viewing the walls we built in order to worship.